Vapor-rectifier.



S W FARNSWORTH.

VAPOR RECTIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30. 1914.

Patented Dec. IL, 1916.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORN EY TTTWTTEM @TATT I. FATMT MFFTFF.

WHDNEY W. FARNSWORTH, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

VAPOR-RECTIFIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, rare.

Application filed March 30, 1914:. Serial No. 828,197.

T 0 all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, SIDNEY W. FARNswon'rrr, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vapor-Rectifiers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to rectifiers of the vapor arc type, and particularly to means for controlling the location of the cathode activity in apparatus of this character.

The object of my invention is to provide a retaining barrier in the cathode pool which may be quickly, easily and cheaply constructed from simple stock shapes of a refractory material, such, for example, as quartz or silica.

In the operation of rectifiers of the vapor arc type, the point where the arc impinges upon a liquid electrode is readily noticeable as a bright spot, which has a tendency to wander in an erratic manner upon the surface of the electrode. As the amount of current passing through the rectifier increases, the cathode spot increases in area, frequently subdividing and ultimately covering practically the entire surface of the cathode pool unless means are provided for confining it. Cathode activity upon the meniscus formed between the liquid of the electrode. and the wall of the containing receptacle, causes fusion and destruction of the wall. Prior to my invention, it has been customary to surround the central portion of the liquid electrode by a refractory ring of insulating material, and to strike the are by any suitable means, such, for example, as an auxiliary electrode, from the confined portion of the electrode. The manufacture of rings of the desired size and shape from quartz or similar substances is a costly operation, and the resultant product is extremely/ fragile and, if broken, is practically useless.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side view in section, of one form of my improved rectifier; Fig. 2 is a plan View, partially in section, of the same;

Fig. 3 is a side view, in section, of a modified form of my invention; Fig. 4 is a plan view, partially in section, of the same; and Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views showing the method of supporting the insulating barrier in my improved rectifier.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 represents the wall of a containing receptacle of some suitable refractory material, such, for example, as steel. The cover 2 of the containing receptacle supports an anode 3 and is insulated therefrom by any suitable means, such, for example, as a gas-tight insulating bushing 4. 5 is the liquid electrode of the device, of some reconstructing material, such, for example, as mercury. Surrounding the central portion of the electrode 5 are two concentric rows 6 and 7 of refractory insulating plates, standing on end on the bottom of the containing receptacle. The plates 6 and 7 are arranged in staggered relation, as shown, so that there is no direct path on the surface of the electrode betweenthe central portion and the outer portion thereof. Supported by the insulating plates 6 and 7 is a shielding member 8 of any suitable refractory material, such, for example, as sheet iron that is cut away at its central portion to expose the central portion of the electrode. The plates 6 and 7 are forced through struck-out portions of the shielding member 8, as shown either in Fig. 5 or in Fig. 6, thus providing means for maintaining the refractory plates in fixed relation. 1

In the operation of my device, current flow is started to the central portion of the liquid electrode by any suitable means, such, for example, as an auxiliary anode, and the are, thus established, will continue to flow between the anode 3 and the cathode 5, being conducted away from the latter by a conductor connected to any suitable point of conductor 9. The cathode spot formed by the arc will wander erratically upon the surface of the cathode within the zone defined by the opening in the center of the member 8, covering it entirely when heavy currents are used, but will not leave these prescribed limits. The materialof the liquid electrode will be vaporized, condenseagainst the walls of the containing receptacle and fall back into the outer portions of the pool 5, whence it can readily flow back to the central portion and be again vaporized. While I have shown the refractory insulating plates as arranged in substantially annular rows, it is obvious that they could be arranged to inclose ellipses, squares or other closed figures, provided they were so arranged as to surround the rectifier wall, such, for example, as athe active portion of the liquid electrode. The shape of the shielding member 8 could obviously be modified in a similar manner without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, instead of employing fiat plates of refractory insulating material to compose the barrier, I employ a plurality of rows of rods or tubes 10 of the material.- These rods are arranged in staggered relation in rows so that the cathode spot is confined in an effectual manner. The rods may be maintained in position either by upwardly struck ears in the shielding member 8, as shown in Fig. 5, or by downwardly projecting ears, as shown in Fig. 6.

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim is: v 1. In vapor electric apparatus, the combination with an electrode, of an arc-controlling barrier for limiting the area of arc activity thereupon, said barrier comprising a plurality of substantially concentric rings and each of said rings comprising a plurality of insulating members.

2. The combination with an electrode, of shielding means for restricting the active arc zone, said means affording indirect communication between the active and inactive portions of the electrode along the electrode surface.

3. In vapor electric apparatus, the combination with a liquid electrode, of an arccontrolling' barrier partially submerged therein and comprising a plurality of members of refractory insulating material, and means for preventing the are from impingin upon the electrode in proximity to the re ractory members. a

4. In vapor electric appa atus, the combi nation with a liquid electrode, of an arccontrolling barrier partially submerged therein'and comprising a plurality of members of refractory insulating material, and a shield for the meniscus formed between i the refractory members and the material of the electrode.

5. In vapor electric apparatus, the combination .with a liquid electrode, of an arccont rol'ling barrier partially submerged therein and comprising a plurality of members of refractory insulating material, and a shield for the portion of the electrode in proximity to the refractory members, said shield also supporting the refractory members in fixed relation.

6. In vapor electric apparatus, the combination with a liquid electrode, of a barrier partially submerged therein, said barrier being composed of a plurality of insulating members surrounding the active portion of the electrode, each of said members having a dimension parallel to the electrode surface less than the circumference of said active portion of the electrode.

7. In vapor electric apparatus, the combination with a liquid electrode, of a barrier partially submerged therein, said barrier being composed of a plurality of insulating members arranged in concentric rows and surrounding-the active portion of the electrode.

8. In vapor electric apparatus, the combination with a liquid electrode, of a barrier partially submerged therein, said barrier being composed of a plurality of insulating members arranged in concentric rows, the members in each row being staggered with respect to the members in immediately adjacent rows, said insulating members surrounding the active portion of the electrode.

9. In vapor electric apparatus, the combi- ..nation with a liquid electrode, of a barrier surrounding the active portion thereof, said barrier being composed of a plurality of refractory insulating members, and a shielding member penetrated by said refractory members, whereby the refractory members are supported in a fixed relation and the meniscus between them and the liquid of the electrode is shielded from the direct action of the are.

10. In vapor electric apparatus, the combination with a liquid electrode, of a barrier partially submerged therein, said barrier being composed of a plurality of separated insulating members surrounding the active portion of the electrode, each of said members having a dimension parallel to the electrode surface less than the circumference of said active portion of the electrode.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of March, 1914.

SIDNEY \V. FARNSWORTH.

Witnesses:

B. B. I'IINES, M. C. Mnnz. 

